>>5814310>>5814466>>5814480>>5814563>>5814571>>5814668>>5814960As the first light of dawn kisses the horizon, you stand before the cowering figures of the Erkin Khan and his heir. The fat and cowardly man is now reduced to tears, his frame shaking, not from the cold of the steppe but from fear. His son mirrors his distress, both of them a testament to the comfort and ease they've known, growing fat on milk and butter instead of going on raids, a stark contrast to the hardened life of your own upbringing. The Erkin Khan’s pleas fill the air, the scent of desperation as pungent as the smell of the livestock they've tended. "Please don't kill me, my tribe will pay a huge ransom, you can keep my concubines, please don't kill me," he blubbers, his words tumbling out in a frantic cascade. You watch the display, your expression stoic, your resolve unshaken by his sniveling. Offering a hand that stops his pleading mid-breath, you command the silence with your calm. "You've witnessed our strength, Khan. Yet we aren't here to destroy but to protect," you say, extending an olive branch. "Unite your tribe with ours. Under my leadership, the Erkin will thrive and be safeguarded from any threats." The words hang between you, an offer of mercy and a promise of protection. "Anything you say," the Erkin Khan stammers, clutching at your words like a lifeline. You nod, accepting his submission, yet you know this is but the first step in a much longer journey. There will be those among the Erkin who will not take kindly to this new allegiance, warriors who might see it as a yoke rather than a shield. The task now is not just to conquer but to win the hearts and minds of your new charges.
>>Public Allegiance: Command the Erkin Khan to address his people at sunrise to solidify the union and display the shift in power.>>Marriage Alliance: Arrange a marriage between members of your tribe and the Erkin to intertwine your destinies and ensure mutual loyalty.>>Take Hostages: Demand important hostages from the Erkin to guarantee their compliance and prevent rebellion.>>Purge of Dissidents: Identify and neutralize any potential Erkin insurgents before they can rally opposition to the new order. 